Tray conveyer



R. E. DE KAY TRAY CONVEYER Feb. 23, 1932.

Filed Sept. 16. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 23, 1932. R, E, DE KAY1,846,632

TRAY. CONVEYER y'Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEROBERT E. DE KAY, 0I' LOS l.A.1"I'GEIS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB T0 RICHARDE. DE KAY,

0E LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRAY CONVEYER .Application med 4September 18, 1930. Serial No. 482,288.

My invention ertains to a tray conveyer of the type used) in certainrestaurants in which there is an endless chain of trays on which foodsare placed, and the customers seated at long tables remove'the differentarticles of food as they pass by on the trays.

In such type of tray conveyer the drive for the trays has usually beennoisy and, therefore, disagreeable to the customers; and, moreover,there has frequently been a binding action at the reverse turns atopposite ends of the conveyer requiring a large amount of power tooperate the trays.

An object of my invention is to have the drive for the conveyercomparatively shortwhereby this may be located in the kitchen or servingcompartment and, hence, not be objectionable to the customers. In thisconnection a further object of my invention is to drive the endlesschain supporting the trays by an endless chain drive, this driving chainbeing driven by an electric motor or other suitable means, preferablythrough reduction gearing, and to cause'the driving chain to reactagainst the conveying chain and to drive such chain with the trays.

A more speciic object and feature of my invention is providing theconveyer chain with a series of abutment lugs which may be engaged bydriving pins -or rollers on the driving chain, being comparatively shortand adapted to engage only several links of the conveyer chain.

Another feature of my invention is the employment of triangular links inthe conveyer chain, theselinks being connected together atv the cornersadjacent t e base and having the apex extending outwardly. The links aresupported on rollers, one at the apex and one adjacent each of thecorners of the base. In this manner of support the individual links rideon the rollers. In addition, there are rollers on the vertical pivotpins connecting the links adjacent the base, and at the turns theserollers which rotate in a horizontal plane bear against the innervertical rail but it is not necessary for this to bear against the railon the straight portions of the run. The stresses of these horizontalrollers bearing against the rails at the turn and this be ing above theplane of the links tends to maintain such links in a horizontal planewithout an upward tilt at the turn.

Another detail feature of my invention comprises in one case the form oftrays, these being made in the-form of a double deck, if desire`d, theupper being for the food and the lower for the dirty dishes removed bythe attendants; and a further detail feature in the form of the'trays isin the curved joint, this joint accommodating the curvature of the endsof the conveyer.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan partly broken away of part of the tray conveyer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan with parts broken away showing the drivingfeatures of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse, enlarged section on the line 4--4 ofFig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a modified form showing a different type of tray.

In my invention I employ a series of cross frames designated 11 whichmay be of any suitable type, and on one side there is an inner rail 12,which is illustrated in the form of an angle, having a vertical flange13 and a horizontal ange 14. On the straight runs there is an outertrack 15, also formed of an angle and this is provided on the horizontal85 flange with guides 16. The flange 14 on the straight portion of thetrack is also provided with guides 17.

The conveyer chain designated generally at 18 comprises a series ofindividual links 19. Each link is triangular and may be considered ashaving a base 20, this base being curved, such curvature conformin withthe curved inner rail at the ends. Eac link has sides 21 joining at theapex 22.' A brace 23 95 extends between the base and the apex. The linksare secured together by provlding one end of each link with lower and.upper ears 24 and 24', the lower ears being preferably in the base ofthe link and providing the other 10 end of the link with an offset top25 fitted between the ears, there being a pin 26 extending upwardlythrough the ears and carrying the roller 27 below the upper ear 24 (noteFig. 3). This roller thus rotates on a vertical axis and engages thevertical web 13 of the inner rail.

Substantially directly below each pin 26 on the .corners of thetriangular links there are a pair of depending lugs 28 having a roller29 journaled therein, such roller running on the horizontal flange 14 ofthe angular track 12 and operating between the parallel guides 17 on thestraight run. At the apex 22 of each triangular link there is asimilarly mounted roller 30, such roller operating on the horizontalflange of the angular track 15 and between the guides 16 on the straightrun, but having no guides whatever on the turn.

The drive for the conveyer chain comprises a series of abutment lugs 31which depend `from each link and are positioned adjacent the junctionpoint of the brace 23 and the base 20 of each link. An endless drive`chain 32 is operated by a driven sprocket wheel 33 carried by an idlersprocket wheel 34, these being supported in suitable journal brackets35, the shaft of the drive sprocket being itself driven by a chain orbelt drive 36 from a reduction gear 37, which latter is operated by anelectric motor 38.

The upper run 39 of the drive chain operates over a board 40 mounted onthe transverse frames 11 and such board holds the chain in a horizontalposition so that the rollers 41 carried by a pin 42 on outwardly eX-tending lugs 43 on the drive chain engage the lugs 31 on the links ofthe conveyer chain. The lugs and links are so spaced that theyinterengage and, hence, the drive chain, which is comparatively short,exerts a complete drive for operating the endless conveyer chain. Asabove mentioned, as this drive chain is comparatively short it may belocated in the kitchen or service department and thus the noise of thedrive will not inconvenience the customers and, moreover, such drive isreadily accessible for oiling and for observation.

It will be noted that the drive for the conveyer chain is comparativelyclose to the inner rail 12 and that the outer rollers 30 at the apex ofthe links are not supported or guided at the turns. While the innerrollers 29 run on the horizontal flange on the inner rail of the turnsthey are not guided by the parallel guide strips 17. The tension exertedon the triangular links is sufficient to maintain these links in ahorizontal position at the turns.

In the illustration shown in Figs. l and 4 there is a lower tray 44which is preferably formed of woodv and is supported on two studs 45which are adjacent the corners of the base of the triangular link, andby a third stud 46 adjacent the apex of the triangular link, these undertrays being illustrated as secured to the studs 45 and 46 by screws 47.The upper trays 48 are supported above the lower trays by end boards 49or the like, and these upper traysare illustrated as having a rim 50 tolessen the danger of the dishes of food falling off the upper tray. Itwill be noted that this upper tra is sli htly above the service anddining table 51 rom which the customers may partake their meals. It willbe apparent that the upper tray may be supported invany suitable mannerfrom the lower tray. In this illustration the upper and lower trays areillustrated as rectangular so that at the turns there is a V-shapedspace 52 formed, but this is no particular inconvenienoe to customersseated at the end of the table.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 I utilize substantially thesame type of conveyer chain with the same type of links and drive. butin this case the individual trays 53. These are provided with inner andouter straight, parallel edges 54 and 55. Each tray at one end has aconcave curve 56 and the edge of the adjacent tray is convex, asindicated at 57. These trays are attached to the triangular links by twostuds 58 and 59, one being adjacent the pivot point of the links and theother adjacent the apex, and in order to support the overhanging part ofeach tray there is a stud 60 on each link, which has a sliding motionrelative to the tray supported thereon. This sliding motion iscomparatively short and the under side of the tray may be protected by astrip of Wearing metal. In this type of construction the curvaturel ofthe adjacent ends of the trays allows the outer portion adjacent thecustomers to be completely closed, thus eliminating any dan er of thecustomer having his hand pinched etween the adjacent trays, or in theremoval of food having this drop between the consecutive trays.

From the above description, together with the drawings, it will be seenthat I have developed an efficient type of drive for the endless type ofchain conveyer carrying trays in the longer and comparatively short section of drive chain as required, and even if there is a certain amountof wear so that one or more lugs on the conveyer or driving chaincarrying most of the load, this is of no consequence whatever as thedrive is longer for a short distance and then the load will be carriedby other lugs so that the wear will be more or less evenly distributedthroughout the whole conveyer. v

At the turns the horizontal flange of the outer track 15 is widened tosupport the outer roller but the guides 16 do not extend around thecurve. The guides 17 of the inner track are also omitted at the turn,thus the outer and inner rollers on each link are free to follow thecurvature of the tracks. The

horizontal roller 27 mounted on the vertical pivot pin 26 bears on thevertical flange 13 of the lnner rail 1 2 at the turns but this rollerdoes not need to contact with this. flan e on the straight portions ofthe track. Wit my construction there is no tendency of the outer portionof the links with their trays to tilt upWardl at the turn.

One o the features in making the endles chain links triangular in shapeis that these may be readily adapted to support opposite sides of thetrays carried thereby, one slde or edge of the tray being supported onthe base and the opposite side at the apex of each link.

Another feature relates to the drive and tothe guide means, especiallyon the curves. In these curves, the bases of the links are ad jacent thecurved, vertical track and have a roller at the connections between thelinks ositioned, in eect, above the links. There ore, these rollers tendto prevent an upward tilt of the outer portion of the chain at thecurves, that is, at the apex, and thus prevent a tendency for the traysto tilt upwardl on the outer portions at the curved ends o the trac-k.

Another feature of using the triangular links relates to the Apovverdrive for only a section of the endless chain, and it will be noted,referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 4 particularly, that this drive connectionis adjacent the base of the links. This, therefore, brings the drivingforce close to the pivots connecting adjacent links, tending to maintainthe chain in a straight line and reduce the friction on the lateralguides.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Alzonveyer having an endless conveyer chain with substantiallytriangular links connected at the ends of their bases and operating in ahorizontal plane with the apexes out- Wardly, an endless drive chain,and means to interconnect the drive chain and the links of the conveyerchain adjacent the base of such links, the portions of the chainsinterconnect ing being materially less than the total length of theconveyer chain.

2. A conveyer having a conveyer chain formed of triangular linksconnected at the ends of their bases operating in a horizontal plane,the apexes of the links being outwardly disposed and each link having asupporting roller adjacent its apex and its base, tracks to support saidrollers, an endless drive chain, and means to interconnect the drivechain and a relatively short portion of the conveyer chain, saidinterconnection being 'adj acent the baseof the links.

3. A conveyer having an endless conveyer chain with triangular-shapedlinks connected at the ends of their bases and adapted to support trayson opposite sides, with their apexes outwardl tracks to su ort saidlinks, each link liaving rollers a jacent the apexes and adjacent linkshaving a roller sup port adjacent the connection, an endless drive chainhaving an'upper run in proximity to a minor section only of the conveyerchain, and means to interengage said chains adjacent the base of thelinks to actuate the conveyer chain continuously by the drive chain.

4. A conveyer having an endless conveyer chain with triangular shapedlinks' to support trays on opposite sides operating in a horizontalplane, tracks to support said links, such links being pivotall connectedtogether adjacent their base an having rollers underneath the said pivotand each link having -a supporting roller at its apex, an endless drivechain materially shorter than the conveyer chain and having a run inproximity to a small section of the conveyer chain, and means tointerconnect said chains adjacent the base of the links to actuate theconveyer chain continuously by the drive chain.

5. A conveyer as claimed in claim 4, the said tracks having guides forthe rollers on the straight run of the conveyer chain and a curved,vertical, supporting structure having an engagement with the base of thelinks at the turns of the conveyer chain.

6. A conveyer having a guide track with a vertical su porting surface,an endless conveyer chain aving a series of links, the said links beingpivotally connected together at the ends of their base, a roller mountedon the pivot connecting the links and above said links and bearingagainst the supporting surface of said track, and means to drive thesaid conveyer chain, said roller preventing the outer portion of thelinks tilting upwardly.

7. A conveyer having an .inner and an outer track, the inner trackhaving a vertical supporting surface, the'outer track having ahorizontal supporting surface, a conveyer chain having a series oftriangular-shaped links to support opposite sides of a tray pivotallyconnected together at the ends of their base, a horizontal roller one-ach pivot above each link to engage the vertical supporting surface,each link adjacent the apex having a vertical roller to engage thehorizontal supporting surface, and means to continuously operate theconveyer chain, and said horizontal roller preventing the outer portionsof the links from tilting up.

8. A conveyer as claimed in claim 7, the inner track having a horizontalsupport-ing surface with rollers on each link adjacent the nds of thebase operating on the said surace.

9. A conveyer having an inner and outer supporting track, the innertrack having a vertical and a horizontal supporting surface and theouter track having a horizont-al supporting surface, said track havingstraight runs and connecting curves, an endless conve er chain formed ofa series of links each substantially triangular in shape to supportopposite sides of a tray, the links being pivotally connected togetheradjacent their ends at the base, a roller on each pivot bearing againstthe vertical surface of the inner track above each lilik, verticalrollers connected to each link and bearing on the horizontal surface ofthe inner track, a vertical roller connected to cach link at its apexand bearing on the horizotal surface of the outer track, said trackshaving guides for the rollers on the straight run, said link operatingin a horizontal plane, an endless drive chain having a short run inproximity to a small portion of one of the straight sections of theconveyer chain, means to interconnect adj acent the base of the links,said chains tooeffect a continuous drive of the conveyer chain from thedrive chain.

10. A conveyer as claimed in claim 9, the said links having a pluralityof trays mounted thereon, said trays being superposed on each link.

11. In a conveyer an endless conveyer chain having a series oftriangular-shaped links pivotally connected together, an upper and alower tray connected to each link, said chain having a straight run withcurved ends, the trays on adjacent links being adapted to meet on thestraight run and form an open section on the curves. .r

12. In a conveyer having an endless conveyer chain with a series oftriangular links pivotally connected together and operating on ahorizontal plane, a tray secured to each link and having a slidingsupport on the adjacent link, said trays having curved adjoining edges,said edges forming a sliding joint along the curved portion of thetravel of the endless chain.

13. A conveyer having an endless chain with substantially triangularhorizontal links connected at their base and with the apexes outwardly,such links bein adapted to support trays from the base and t e apexes,

an endless drive chain having its upper run,

adjacent the conveyer chain, and means forming an interconnectionbetween the drive chain and the conveyer chain adjacent the baseportions of the links, the drive chain engaging only a minor part of thelength of the conveyer chain.

14. A conveyer having an endless conveyer chain formed of substantiallytriangular horizontal links pivotally connected together at the ends oftheir bases and with their apexes outwardly, said links being adapted tosupport trays from their bases and apexes on opposite sides of thetrays, vertical guide tracks adjacent the bases of the links, with meanson the chain to engage such tracks, an endless drive chain having astraight upper run parallel to the conveyer chain, with means tointerconnect the drive and the conveyer chain adjacent the base of thelinks.

15. A conveyer as claimed in claim 14, the means to engage the trackscomprisin horizontal rollers mounted on the vertica pivot ins connectingthe links, said rollers being above the major portion of the plane ofthe links and adapted on the curved portions of the track to prevent theapexcs of the links from lifting.

16. A conveyer having an endless conveyer chain formed oftriangular-shaped links pivotally connected together by vertical plvotsad'acent their bases, their apeXes bein outwardly, a tray supported fromeach linky a support adjacent the base and adjacent the apex of eachlink, thereby sup` porting the trays on opposite sides, horizontaltracks below the links, each link havin a vertical roller to operate onthe tracks, sald rollers being adjacent the bases and the apexes, anendless drive chain having a straight upper run parallel to the conveyerchain, and means to interconnect the drive and conveyer chain adjacentthe bases of the lines.

17. A conveyer as claimed in claim 16 the vertical pivots connecting thelinks each aving a horizontal roller thereon, the inner track having avertical guide surface engaging said rollers, said rollers beingpositioned above the major portion of eachlink and preventing thetilting upwardly of the links and the trays at the turns of theconveyer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT E. DE KAY.

